Jukebox entertainment system having multiple choice games relating to music

ABSTRACT

Entertainment system based on multiple choice competition games, which includes at least one terminal with a connection to a dedicated remote server, the system also including a module for playing an extract of a recording with a configurable duration on at least one terminal that can reproduce the recording, interact with a user, connect with a dedicated remote server, ask a terminal user a question and suggest multiple choice answers, the question being related to information characteristic of the extract of the recording, and the recording being selected independent of the terminal user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/247,547filed Apr. 8, 2014, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.13/632,462 filed Oct. 1, 2012 which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 13/238,224, filed Sep. 21, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,292,712,which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/923,426, filed Sep.21, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,052,512, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 12/453,467, filed May 12, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No.7,819,734, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/688,698,filed Oct. 17, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,919, which claims priorityto French Application No. 96 11977, filed Sep. 15, 2000, the entirecontents of each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an entertainment process based on competitiongames with questions with multiple choice answers related to audio orvisual recordings (film, video clip, plays, etc.)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games based on the musical knowledge of players are known in prior art,and particularly radio or television games. For example, the game is ofthe questions/answers type during which a player must for example givethe name of an artist, the title or the next word of a song from which ashort extract is played. In this type of game, questionnaires areprepared before the game and the game takes place either with a singleplayer, or in the case of a television game with several competitors inthe same place and competing on the same question.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to overcome thedisadvantages of prior art by proposing an entertainment process basedon the music theme by which players in places remote from each other canparticipate in contest games based on the music theme.

This purpose is achieved using an entertainment system based on multiplechoice competition games, characterized in that it comprises at leastone terminal including connection means to a dedicated remote server,the system also comprising means of playing an extract of a recordingwith a configurable duration on at least one terminal comprising meansof reproducing the recording, means of interaction with a user and meansof connection with a dedicated remote server, means of asking a terminaluser a question and suggesting multiple choice answers, the questionbeing related to information characteristic of the extract of therecording, and the recording being selected by means independent of theterminal user.

Another objective is to be able to assign prizes as a function of theclassification of participants (prize=free songs, free drink, freeparticipation in the next competition).

This purpose is achieved using an entertainment system like that definedabove and characterized in that each terminal comprises means ofselecting and validating the terminal user's answer, validation meansthat update a results file containing information representative of theanswer chosen by the user, this file being transmitted to the server byeach terminal, to count the score achieved by each user and to classifyusers.

Another objective of the invention is to propose an entertainmentprocess based on the music theme, in which players located in placesremote from each other can participate in games tournaments on the musictheme.

This purpose is achieved by an entertainment process based on multiplechoice competitive games characterized in that it comprises:

a step in which an extract of a recording with a variable duration isplayed on a terminal equipped with reproduction means,

a step in which a question related to the extract is created using theterminal interaction means including proposed multiple choice answers,the recording being selected independently of the terminal user.

Another purpose of the invention is to take account of author copyrightswhen the games include sound or visual reproductions of all or somemusical or visual recordings.

This purpose is achieved by an entertainment process as defined aboveand characterized in that a log file is updated every time that anextract of a recording is reproduced in a questionnaire screen, the logfile contains the identification of the recording and the number oftimes that the recording has been played, and the log file isperiodically transmitted to the server which calculates author'sroyalties to be paid to the various persons entitled to them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The invention and its characteristics and advantages will become clearerafter reading the description with reference to the single attacheddrawing that represents a simplified diagram of a network comprising aserver and several terminals to implement the process according to theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. Theentertainment process according to the invention is particularlyapplicable to a computer network comprising a server 1 dedicated to thedistribution of audio visual information, for example such as songs,musical works, films, television programs, etc. This server 1 isconnected through a communication means 10 to several terminals 2, 3through a communication network 4 and communication means 21, 31installed in each terminal 2,3. The communication network 4 may be ofany known type. In particular, the communication network 4 may be a wireor cellular telephone network, or a radio network, a cable network, oroptical or satellite network, or any combination of these networks.Similarly, the communication network 4 can introduce intermediatemultiservice servers (not shown) that are then connected between thededicated server 1 and a group 2, 3 of terminals connected to themultiservice server. For example, a multiservice server may be acellular telephony operator, an Internet access supplier, an accesssupplier to a cable television network or a satellite network. In thiscase, the terminal 3 may be a cellular telephone, or a decoder connectedto a television or a personal computer. Similarly, a terminal (2) may bean audiovisual reproduction system as described in patent applicationsEP786121 and EP974896.

Each terminal 2, 3 comprises at least storage means associated withstored information processing means, for example in the form ofcompressed and encrypted recordings of programs or program and messagemodules and means 22, 32 of interaction with the user. The interactionmeans 22, 32 include a display means such as a screen, and at least oneselection means, for example chosen from a touch screen, a pointer suchas a mouse, browser key in a menu, or a voice control system.

The principle of the entertainment process according to the invention isto run a game program starting by a button triggered by or oninteractive means and based on a multichoice questionnaire on a theme,for example music. The specific feature of this questionnaire is that isit based on the collection of information in a database 13, 23 stored onthe dedicated server 1 and possibly on a specific terminal 2. In thiscase, the specific terminal 2 is an audiovisual reproduction system likethat defined in patent application EP786121 and EP974896. The database13, 23 comprises at least information relative to music extracts. Inparticular, the database comprises at least one table including titlesof recordings, artists, the author(s), disk or recording publishers, theyear of issue and any other information characterizing the visual ormusical recording. Furthermore, the database 13, 23 includes all or someof the data necessary for audio reproduction of musical extracts.According to the invention, each question includes the audio and/orvideo reproduction of all or some of the recording.

Questionnaires are usually generated in two ways.

In a first variant, the questionnaires are made automatically by a gamemodule 14, 24, 34 memorized on each terminal 2, 3 or on the dedicatedserver 1. The game module 14, 24, 34 can also be stored on amultiservice server. The main functions of the game module 14, 24, 34 isfirstly to trigger playing at least one extract of a recording usingdecompression and possibly decryption means, and secondly to generate adisplay screen comprising at least one question about the extract fromthe recording in the database 13, 23 played on the terminal and a choiceamong at least two possible answers displayed and that can be selectedby one of the interaction means 22, 32.

In another example, the question consists of recognizing the song froman audio extract of it.

Each screen corresponding to each question is generated as follows.Firstly, the game module 14, 24, 34 comprises selection means 141, 241,341 for example comprising a program module or sub-module to select arecording, for example a musical recording, at random from therecordings in the database 13, 23. For example, this random selectioncan be made using a unique identification number assigned to eachrecording. The chosen identification number must be the number of arecording for which the party entitled to royalties has given itsagreement for the recording to be used in a game. In order to do this, aflag is defined for each recording in the database 13, 23 indicatingthat the recording cannot be used for a game. Thus, after selecting arecording identification number at random, the selection means 141, 241,341 verify that a flag is present. If the flag is not present, theselection means validate the selection of the recording. If the flag isdetected, the selected recording is ignored and another recording ischosen instead. The other recording can be chosen either using anotherrandom selection operation, or by choosing the next identificationnumber in the database. The selection means will check again to see if aflag is present. The selection operation is repeated until a recordingis selected that can be used for a game.

The game module 14, 24, 34 comprises a sub-module 143, 243 for theextraction of data necessary for an audio reproduction of an extractfrom the selected recording. The quantity of extracted data correspondsto an extract with a given duration. This given duration is of the orderof a few seconds and may be modified by configuration or automaticallyas a function of a results evaluation program 16, 26, 36 to make theanswer or the choice of answer to the question easier or more difficult.For example, selection parameters for the extract (for example audio orvideo) may be stored in a configuration file 17, 27, 37 read by theextraction sub-module 143, 243 for each generation of a question with anaudio or visual reproduction of a recording. Similarly, theconfiguration file 17, 27, 37 for the extraction sub-module 143, 243 isconfigured such that the moment in the recording at which the extractbegins can be chosen, for example at random. The instant at which theextract starts can also be configured in the configuration file 17, 27,37 for the extraction sub-module 143, 243. Thus, for this type ofquestion based on the audio reproduction of an extract from a recording,the graphic sub-module generates a display screen for which the questionincludes the text of the question concerning the recording and at thesame time the game module 14, 24, 34 triggers a command to reproduce theextract from the recording collected by the extraction module, on theaudio reproduction means on the terminal.

In a first variant, the question could simply consist of a predeterminedtext such as the following:

“What is the title of this recording?” or “Who is singing this song?” or“When was this film released?”.

In a second variant, the question may also comprise information aboutthe reproduced recording, for example to build up a clue to the rightanswer.

In this case, the game module 14, 24, 34 comprises means 142, 242, 342,for example a program module in the database 13, for the collection ofat least two determined items of information (INF 1, INF 2) about therecording selected at random. These two determined items of informationmay either be of the same type for the entire questionnaire, or they mayvary at random from one question to the other depending on the type ofgame module 14, 24, 34. A first information (INF 1) collected is thenused by a graphic sub-module of the game module to enter the question inthe generated screen. The question includes an invariable text and apart corresponding to the first collected information (INF 1). Forexample, one question type is as follows:

“In what year did “INF 1” sing this song?”.

In this example, ENF 1 is the name of the artist who sang the replayedsong.

“Who produced this film in “INF 1”?”.

In the second example, INF 1 is the year in which the extract from thefilm from which the extract was taken.

In both of the variants described above, the screen generated by thegraphic sub-module of the game module 14, 24, 34 also comprises at leasttwo selection areas showing the possible choices of an answer to thequestion asked, for example in the form of the multiple choice answer.Among these selection areas, a first area comprises the secondinformation (INF 2) (title, author, singer, composer, producer, actor,publisher, year of release) about the extract from the selectedrecording and forming the right answer. The other selection areascontain information selected at random in the database by the selectionsub-module 141, 241, 341 and containing the wrong answers. Thisinformation selected at random is all of the same type (chosen amongtypes such as title, author, singer, composer, producer, actor,publisher, year of release) as the second determined information (INF 2)displayed in the first selection area. In other words, the informationdisplayed in the other selection areas relates to recordings differentfrom the those previously selected but has the same attribute in thedatabase as the attribute of the second determined information (INF 2)displayed in the first selection area. Thus, for example if thedetermined information displayed in the first selection area is relatedto the song title, then the selection sub-module will select at leastanother song title at random in the database for the other informationdisplayed in the remaining selection areas.

In order to generate questionnaires with different degrees ofdifficulty, the game module 14, 24, 34 reads a parameter file, forexample to increase the number of possible answers. The parameter filefor the game module 14, 24, 34 can also be configured to select “wronganswers” not in the set of musical or audiovisual recordings in thedatabase, but in only part of this database 13, 23 with points in commonwith the recording selected at random such that the incorrect answerscould be plausible considering the question asked. Thus, if therecording selected at random to create the question is country stylemusic, then the wrong answers will be selected among country music stylerecordings.

Similarly, the recording chosen at random to create the question can bechosen among one type of recording instead of among all recordings inthe database, for example all questions may relate to the same style,the same author or the same artist.

The advantage of the game module according to the first variant is thateach questionnaire is different for each game and that eachquestionnaire is made automatically and unpredictably. Therefore, it isimpossible to know what questions will be asked in advance.

When the database 13 is not stored on the terminal 3, the game module 34includes a communication sub-module 344 that builds up messages tointerrogate the database 13 on the dedicated server 1 in order toreceive information necessary for generation of the question screen,namely determined information about an extract of a recording selectedat random to build the question and the corresponding answer and theinformation selected at random, for example in the same type ofrecording or in recordings made at the same period, to form the wronganswers. Thus, messages sent by terminals include selection commands tobe used by a module for management of the database 13 on the server 1.The messages also comprise the address of the sending terminal. Theserver 1 also includes a sub-module 101 for creating and transmittingmessages to transmit the result of the collection made by the databasemanager, to the sending terminal. When it receives the answer from theserver, the communication sub-module 344 of the terminal 3 extracts theinformation collected in the database so that the terminal graphicmodule 39 can use it to generate the question screen.

Similarly, in another variant, the game module is 35 located on thededicated server 1 and the questionnaire is started by a command sent bythe terminal 2 to start the game module 14 that, in this case only,comprises a start module 30 to start the game with the server toactivate a game start button controlled by interactive means. In thisvariant embodiment, the server 1 comprises a communication module thatgenerates messages comprising information representative of the displaycorresponding to the question screen. A graphic module 39 of theterminal is designed to interpret messages sent by the server to createquestion screens as described above. When a question includes a sound orvisual reproduction of an extract from a recording corresponding to thequestion, the server sends information representative of the audio orvisual extract in the message, with a command to play this extract.

Information representing the audio extract is in compressed and codedform if the terminal is equipped with decompression and decoding means,or in plain text if the terminal is only capable of decompression.

When the graphic sub-module of the terminal displays the multiple choiceanswer screen, the user (in other words the player) is prompted toanswer the question using interaction means by pointing to the answer ofhis choice. When the game module 14 is located on a dedicated server 1,selection or validation of a selection in a selection area will cause amessage to be sent containing the identifier of the chosen answer andinformation to identify the terminal or the player and activating acomparison sub-module 145, 245 on the server 1. When the game module 24,34 is stored on the terminal 2, 3, selecting or validating the selectionof an area on the screen by interaction means will cause activation of acomparison module 145, 245 stored on the terminal 2, 3. In both cases,the comparison sub-module 145, 245 compares the position of the areaselected by the player, and for example corresponding to the address ofa stored response, with the right answer. This sub-module then updates aresults file 15, 25, 35, using the game module 14, 24, 34. This resultsfile contains firstly identification of the player and/or the associatedterminal 2, 3, and secondly either the “true” Boolean value to show thatthe answer selected by the player is the right answer, or a “false”boolean value to indicate that the answer selected by the player is thewrong answer, for each question.

In another variant, the results file 15, 25, 35 10 comprises anidentification of the player and/or the terminal 2, 3 and a counterincremented by a determined value every time that the answer selected bythe player is the right answer and a second counter incremented everytime that the answer selected by the player is a wrong answer (or thefirst counter decremented by a different value).

According to one variant embodiment, when the game module 24, 34 isstored on the terminal 2, 3, the terminal comparison sub-module 245 isconnected to the graphic sub-module 29 to trigger the display of ascreen informing the user either that his answer was right, or that hemade a mistake and in this case to tell him the right answer. When thegame module 14 is located on the server 1, the server contains means 101of creating and transmitting messages to the terminal, these messagescomprising information and associated commands causing the display of ascreen informing the user either that he gave the right answer or thathe made a mistake. The right answer can also be given if he made amistake.

According to another variant embodiment, the comparison module comprisesmeans of sending messages from the server to each of the terminalsparticipating in the game by addressing each terminal to generate ascreen on each terminal triggering the display of a table displaying thescores of the different players playing on each of the differentterminals.

The results file 15, 25, 35 may also comprise information identifyingthe type and degree of difficulty of the questionnaire. The type ofquestionnaire depends on the style, for example the style of music(country, rock, rap) about which the questions are asked.

The results file 15, 25, 35 is stored either on the special terminal 2,3 or on the dedicated server 1. If it is on the dedicated server,whenever the player selects an answer, a sub-module stored on terminal 2generates a message containing information representative of theposition of the selected area, this message is then sent to thededicated server 1 by the terminal 2, 3 with the terminal identifier andthe server uses the comparison module 145, 245 to determine if theanswer is right.

After the results file 15, 25, 35 has been updated, or at the same time,the game module 14, 24, 34 generates a new screen containing a newquestion.

At the end of the questionnaire, in other words when a determined numberof question screens has been displayed, the results file 25, 35 storedon the terminal 2, 3 is sent to the dedicated server 1 through thecommunication network 4.

The results files 15, 25, 35 transmitted by 25 terminals or stored bythe dedicated server 1 are processed by a classification module 11stored on the server 1, firstly to extract information representative ofthe results achieved by the user of each terminal, and secondly toupdate a classification of the different players as a function of thescores that they have achieved in answering the questionnaires. Asalready described, the results files 15, 25, 35 may comprise informationrepresentative of the type of music on which the questionnaire is based,and/or the degree of difficulty. Thus, the player classification may bedetermined as a function of the type of questionnaire, its difficultyand the category to which the player belongs (beginner for anyone whohas never been registered on the server, advanced for a player who hasobtained results above a certain level, expert for a player who hasexceeded a second higher level). The dedicated server 1 comprises means101 of creating a message and sends a message to each player, in otherwords to each terminal 2, 3, containing information representative ofthe player's classification. When this message is received, a graphicmodule on the terminal 2, 3 creates a screen showing the player'sclassification among the others.

The degree of difficulty of the questionnaire may be modified as afunction of the classification of a player. For example, thismodification may be made by downloading a new game module 24, 34 fromthe dedicated server 1 to replace the game module already installed onthe terminal.

This new game module then comprises a new 20 configuration file 17, 27,37 and a new parameter file containing new question creation parameters.

Similarly, depending on the classification made by the server 1, prizesmay be assigned to the leading players in the classification. Forexample, when the terminal is a reproduction system, the prizes mayinclude the possibility of selecting a song on the reproduction systemfree of charge, or a free drink at the bar in which the reproductionsystem is installed, or free participation in the next game when acharge is normally made to participate in the game.

In another variant embodiment, the module 24, 34 is updated by thededicated server 1 sending an update file, comprising essentiallycommands to modify the parameters file for the game module 24, 34. Thus,as already explained, the number of possible choices for answering thequestion can be modified.

A second means of creating the questionnaire consists of creating eachquestion screen in advance. Thus, all questions in each questionnaireare known in advance. However, each question is applicable to arecording for which characteristic information (title, artist, etc.) isstored in the database 13, 23. Consequently, for this questionnaire,each screen contains the text of the question and a command to collectat least one item of information about the recording referred to in thequestion and contained in the database 13, 23. In the same way as in thefirst variant, the question screen comprises a first selection areacontaining the text for the right answer and at least one secondselection area containing the text for a wrong answer. The text in theselection areas corresponding to the wrong answers may be obtainedeither by means of a command to collect determined information from thedatabase, or it may consist of a predetermined text, or may be obtainedby means of a random selection command to select information in thedatabase.

For example, one question could be based on the principle consisting offinding the missing word or information in a recording in which theplayer is asked to find the missing information. In order to do this,the game module 14, 24, 34 comprises a sub-module to process the extractand to mute or hide part of the image of a portion of the extract of therecording when it is reproduced by the game module, in addition to themodule for extraction of information representative of the audio orvideo reproduction of the recording.

As already explained, the extraction module retrieves informationrepresentative of an extract from the recording with a given duration,starting from a given moment of the recording. The processing sub-moduleis configured to mute or hide the extract while it is being reproducedat a given instant of the extract and for a given time, for examplecorresponding to the information that the player is expected to find.

Thus, a question of this type comprises firstly a command sent to anextraction sub-module 143, 243 to retrieve information representing theextract from the chosen recording containing the information to befound, from the database. Secondly, the question includes a mute or hidecommand sent to the processing sub-module, for example to eliminate thesound volume of the determined portion of the extract being reproduced,or to hide a portion of the image. Thirdly, the question may include acommand sent to the collection sub-module 142, 242, 342 to extract thename of the song and/or the artist and/or the publisher and/or any otherinformation characterizing a recording in order to build up thequestion.

In one variant embodiment, muting generated by the processing module isreplaced or complemented by mixing a sound or video signal masking theaudio or video reproduction of the information to be found, at the givenmoment.

In another variant, for example in the case in which informationrepresenting the audio reproduction of the recording is not stored inthe database, the questionnaire includes firstly data representing theextract from the recording also including mixing of the sound signal ora volume reduction corresponding to the missing words. Secondly, acommand to play these data on the audio reproduction means of theterminal 2, 3.

Player responses are managed in the same way as before. Thus, for eachanswer, the results file is updated by a comparison module 145, 245 inthe game module. Similarly, the dedicated server 1 classifies players inthe same way and transmits the classification results to each player.

Unlike the first type of questionnaire, the second type of questionnaireis made in advance, and consequently each module corresponding to aquestionnaire of the second type comprises a flag representative of howthe questionnaire is used. As soon as the questionnaire has been usedfor a player or a group of players, the flag associated with this playeror group of players is set in a table on the server such that thequestionnaire cannot be reused by the same player or the same group.When the game module is activated by one or several players, in otherwords by one or several terminals, the game module 14, 24, 34 verifiesif the flag is set in the corresponding table. If it is set, anotherquestionnaire of the same type is sent to the terminals 2, 3.

The advantage of the second type of questionnaire is that severalplayers can answer the same questionnaire at the same time. In thesecond case, the classification sub-module of the server 1 is configuredto manage the results of several players, in other words terminals 2, 3replying to the same questionnaire at the same time. In order to dothis, the comparison module 145, 245 described above generates a messageto the server after each answer by each player. This message includes anidentification of the sender terminal 2, 3 and informationrepresentative of the player's answer to a question, for exampleidentified by its number. Starting from these messages, theclassification module 11 sorts the terminals as a function of theanswers provided. The dedicated server 1 then transmits a messagecontaining information representing the general classification of thegame, and possibly presenting answers given by other players, to eachterminal participating in the same questionnaire. The graphic sub-moduleof the terminal 2, 3 uses this message to generate a screen to displaythe classification and possibly the answers given by the otherparticipants.

According to one variant embodiment, a payment procedure takes placebefore the game module 14, 24, 34 is started. This procedure may be inseveral forms. Thus, when the terminal 2 is a reproduction systemcomprising payment means, game mode is selected by action on controlmeans in the audiovisual reproduction system, and the result is that aspecific screen is displayed. This specific screen comprises a messageinviting the user to pay an amount of money using payment meansinstalled on the terminal, or to enter information necessary tosubsequently debit the user's bank account to pay for his participationin the game. After making the payment or giving the informationnecessary to debit his account, the user is allowed to access the gamemodule. The game module starts after the means of payment in theaudiovisual reproduction system has detected the requested sum.

When the terminal 3 is not equipped with means of payment, the gamemodule will not be activated until after a communication with thededicated server 1. As explained above, information is collected fromthe database on the dedicated server 1 to generate the screens on theterminal. Access to the database is then preceded by a terminalauthentication procedure. Thus, the terminal must be identified by theserver before it can access the database. For example, thisidentification is assigned when a subscription procedure is performedbefore the first time that the terminal is connected to the server. Thissubscription procedure may include a payment step during each newconnection, in which case the dedicated server 1 asks the terminal forits identification to authorize access to the database.

In one variant embodiment of the invention, the player has at least onejoker to help him choose his answer. For example, a joker can beselected by using a virtual button represented on the question screendisplayed on the display means of the terminal 2, 3 and pointed at bythe user using interaction means. Selecting a joker starts a sub-module146, 246, 346 that modifies at least one element of the question to makethe player's answer easier.

For example, this joker sub-module 146, 246, 346 can cause reproductionof the extract of the recording with different parameters, for exampleby increasing the duration of the extract. In this case, and for thisquestion only, the extraction module parameter file is modified so thatthe data extracted from the database result in a longer extract from therecording.

In another example, the joker sub-module 146, 246, 346 modifies thedisplay screen, for example by hiding at least one selection areacontaining a wrong answer. In another example, the joker sub-module 146,246, 346 gives the right answer and considers that the player has giventhe right answer.

This joker sub-module 146, 246, 346 also includes a file forming a jokercounter and containing information representative of the number ofjokers available. This file is updated at the beginning of the game, forexample, with a predetermined number of jokers. Every time that the userselects the virtual button to validate a joker, the joker sub-module146, 246, 346 checks if the available number of jokers is equal to zero,and if it is not the sub-module decrements the number of jokers by one.Otherwise, the joker sub-module 146, 246, 346 displays a message statingthat the jokers credit is exhausted. In one variant embodiment, thejokers counter is initialized to zero at the beginning of the game. Whenthe user selects the virtual button to select a joker for the firsttime, a jokers payment screen is displayed inviting the player to pay anamount of money to obtain at least one joker. The jokers counter isupdated to include the new number of jokers, depending on the amount ofmoney paid for by the player. If the jokers counter is reduced to zeroduring the game and the player selects the virtual button again tovalidate a joker, the jokers payment screen can be displayed again sothat the player can rebuild his stock of jokers by making anotherpayment.

The jokers payment rule can be defined such that the amount necessary topay for a joker increases as the number of jokers requested by theplayer since the beginning of the game increases.

When the questionnaire includes at least one reproduction of at leastone extract from a recording, the game module 14, 24, 34 includes a logfile updated by a specific sub-module. This log file containsinformation representative of the number of times that a recording wasplayed during the game, and possibly the duration of the reproducedextracts.

The log file is either stored on the terminal 2, 3 or on the dedicatedserver 1. When the log file is stored on the terminal 2, 3, thecommunication means periodically transmit information contained in thefile to the server 1, and then the game module 24, 34 stored on theterminal 2, 3 reinitializes the log file.

The information contained in log files is processed by a royaltiescalculation module 12 that extracts information about the use ofrecordings to determine and calculate the royalties that are to be paidto the different parties entitled to them.

Thus, the entertainment system according to the invention ischaracterized in that it comprises at least one terminal comprisingconnection means to a remote dedicated server 1, the system alsocomprising means of playing an extract with a duration that can bevaried, of a recording on at least one terminal 2, 3 comprisingrecording reproduction means, interaction means with a user andconnection means 21, 31 with a remote dedicated server 1, means ofasking a terminal user a question, suggesting multiple choice answers,the question being related to information characteristic of the extractfrom the recording, the recording being selected by selection meansindependent of the terminal user.

According to another feature, each terminal comprises means for the userof the terminal 2, 3 to select and validate his answer, the validationmeans updating a results file 15, 25, 35 containing informationrepresentative of the answer chosen by the user, this file beingtransmitted to the server 1 by each terminal 2, 3 to count the scoremade by each user to classify the users.

According to another feature, the played extract from the recording andthe information necessary to create the question about informationcharacteristic of the extract from the recording and the multiple choiceanswers are stored in a database stored on storage means on the server 1or on storage means on the terminal 2.

Similarly, the entertainment process according to the invention ischaracterized in that it comprises:

a step in which an extract of a recording is played, for a variableduration, on a terminal provided with reproduction means,

a step in which a question related to the extract is created using theterminal interaction means 2, 3, suggesting multiple choice answers, therecording being selected independently of the terminal user.

According to another feature, the process also comprises:

a step in which a results file 15, 25, 35 is sent by each terminal to adedicated server 1 containing information representative of the answerchosen by the user using interaction means, to count the score made byeach user to classify users.

According to another feature, the step in which the question is createdusing interaction means is preceded by a payment step.

According to another feature, the recording on which determinedinformation is collected is selected at random in a database storedeither on the server or on the terminal.

According to another feature the choice of the recording from which theextract is taken is made from a determined type of recording containedin the database.

According to another feature, a log file is updated every time that anextract of a recording is reproduced in a screen of the questionnaire,the log file contains the identification of the recording and the numberof times that the recording has been played, the log file is transmittedperiodically to the server 1 that calculates royalties to be paid to thevarious authors.

According to another feature, the process comprises a step in which ajoker is selected and validated, this step comprising a step in whichthe question and/or multiple choice answers are modified to make iteasier for the user to find an answer.

According to another feature, the step in which a joker is selected andvalidated is preceded by a payment step in which the user is invited topay an amount of money to obtain a determined number of jokers.

Persons experienced in the subject will realize that many other specificembodiments of this invention would be possible without going outsidethe scope of the invention as claimed. Consequently, the variousembodiments must be considered as illustrations, but can be modifiedwithin the scope defined in the attached claims, and the inventioncannot be limited to the details given above.

What is claimed is:
 1. An entertainment system configured to support amultiple-choice question type game, comprising: at least one electronicdevice including a first processor, an audio output device and a displaydevice, and configured to enable a plurality of users to participate inthe game by presenting on the display device a user interface that (i)interacts with the plurality of users, (ii) presents a plurality ofmultiple-choice questions, and (iii) offers a plurality of multipleanswer choices to the plurality of users; and at least one serverincluding a second processor and connected, via a communication network,with the at least one electronic device, wherein: the plurality ofquestions are based on information extracted from multimedia data, themultimedia data being selected from the at least one server or the atleast one electronic device, and the selected multimedia data beingstored at least in part on the at least one electronic device; portionsof a configurable length of the selected multimedia data are reproducedvia the audio output device by the first processor in association withthe plurality of multiple-choice questions displayed on the displaydevice during the game; and at least one of the first processor or thesecond processor automatically, as a function of a results evaluationprogram, changes the length of said portions in accordance with adetermined difficulty level of the game to make a choice of an answerfrom said plurality of multiple answer choices to respective subsequentones of said plurality of multiple-choice questions easier or moredifficult, said results evaluation program analyzing a continuouslyupdated results file indicating whether at least one of the plurality ofmultiple answer choices selected by at least one of the plurality ofusers in response to at least one of said plurality of multiple-choicequestions previously presented on the display device is correct orincorrect.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronicdevice is further configured to: validate the plurality of multipleanswer choices selected via the user interface by the plurality ofusers; update the continuously updated results file indicative of theselected plurality of multiple answer choices, stored by the at leastone server and/or the at least one electronic device; and store aplurality of scores achieved by the plurality of users.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the at least one electronic device is furtherconfigured to rank the plurality of users of the at least one electronicdevice.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the ranking of the pluralityof users is based on respective scores of the users.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one electronic device further comprises astorage device to store the selected multimedia data.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the storage device further stores the plurality ofmultiple-choice questions.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the storagedevice further stores the plurality of scores achieved by the pluralityof users.
 8. The system of claim 5, wherein at least some data stored tothe storage device is accessible to the at least one server.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic device furthercomprises a payment collector configured for use in a payment procedureprior to enabling the game.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein thepayment collector is operable to further collect an additional amount ofmoney greater than a predetermined amount of money in response to auser's choice to make the plurality of multiple-choice questionspresented in the user interface easier than other plurality ofmultiple-choice questions for which the predetermined amount of money iscollected.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the selecting of themultimedia data is based on a plurality of searching criteria defined ina configuration file stored on the at least one server or the at leastone electronic device.
 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising: astorage memory having a reports file storing an indication of a numberof times multimedia data have been performed in connection with thegame; and the first processor and/or the second processor beingconfigured to read the reports file and calculate royalty payments thatare due as a result of performance of the multimedia data, wherein theindication is updated in response to a portion of the multimedia databeing reproduced on the at least one electronic device.
 13. A method ofsupporting a multiple-choice question type game in an entertainmentsystem, the method comprising: providing at least one electronic devicehaving a first processor, an audio output device and a display device,configured to enable a plurality of users to participate in the game;connecting at least one server having a second processor with the atleast one electronic device via a communication network; selectingmultimedia data from the at least one server or the at least oneelectronic device; storing the selected multimedia data at least in parton the at least one electronic device; generating a plurality ofmultiple-choice questions and a plurality of multiple answer choicesbased on information extracted from the selected multimedia data;presenting on the display device a user interface that (i) interactswith the plurality of users, (ii) presents the plurality ofmultiple-choice questions, and (iii) offers the plurality of multipleanswer choices to the plurality of users; and reproducing via the audiooutput device by the first processor portions of a configurable lengthof the selected multimedia data in association with plurality ofmultiple choice questions displayed on the display device during thegame, wherein at least one of the first processor or the secondprocessor automatically, as a function of a results evaluation program,changes the length of said portions in accordance with a determineddifficulty level of the game to make a choice of an answer from saidplurality of multiple answer choices to respective subsequent ones ofsaid plurality of multiple-choice questions easier or more difficult,said results evaluation program analyzing a continuously updated resultsfile indicating whether at least one of the plurality of multiple answerchoices selected by at least one of the plurality of users in responseto at least one of said plurality of multiple-choice questionspreviously presented on the display device is correct or incorrect. 14.The method of claim 13, further comprising: validating the plurality ofmultiple answer choices selected via the user interface by the pluralityof users; updating the continuously updated results file indicative ofthe selected plurality of multiple answer choices; and storing aplurality of scores achieved by the plurality of users.
 15. The methodof claim 14, further comprising ranking the plurality of users of the atleast one electronics device based on their respective scores.